RIVERSIDE, California -- There is likely nothing more special, in a father-son relationship, than when the son follows in the father's footsteps and makes his mark on the family business just like his dad did.
For years racing fans watched California's Butch Gilliland's career hit its zenith when he won the NASCAR Grand National Division West Series points championship in 1997. At the time his son, David Gilliland , was working for the team while planning to make his own entry into the family business.
We have already seen how well that worked. He made a stunning debut in the NASCAR Autozone Elite Division Southwest Series by winning five races in 2003. He has since moved on to the West Series and opened up the 2005 season by winning the first race of the year, at Phoenix, and his making a move towards the NASCAR Busch Series. His future in the family business has an unlimited brightness.
On May 15th David Gilliland got to watch his son make his official debut in the family business. That's the day young Todd Gilliland drove in his first ever race. He was piloting a midget racer, at the California based Pomona Quarter Midget Raceway, where he finished third after completing s stunning outside pass. It was a great way for Todd Gilliland to celebrate his birthday that very same evening. He turned five years old on May 15th.
In an official statement, prepared for the family, the very proud father said "I really was not surprised that Todd did as well as he did. I had faith in him. He caught the racing bug really early and was anxious to try racing."
Butch Gilliland, the equally proud grandfather, said, "I’m currently working on David's team and I'm very excited to be there to work for my grandson and to enjoy watching him as he prepares for a career in racing. I've been waiting for this moment since Todd turned two and was able to drive his small electric race cars around David's back yard."
Just like famous racing families before them, such as the Pettys and the Andrettis, the Gillilands are in a position to put their racing knowledge and resources into Todd's entry into the family business. If heredity still means anything at all, and I have a feeling that it does, then it will be most interesting to watch Todd Gilliland 's racing career unfold.
